Part 3The 1600 Deception

The day after the exam, my parents took Caleb on a luxury graduation trip to Europe.

They left me behind. I wasn't sad; I was relieved. With the house empty, I could finally work.

I dialed a number I had memorized by heart.

"Professor, I solved the equation you sent me last month."

The voice on the other end gasped. "Nathan? You actually cracked the Riemann hypothesis variant? This is... this is going to change everything for the institute!"

The Professor sent a car for me immediately.

I spent the next month at the Advanced Research Institute, working on proofs and algorithms. I didn't leave until the day the SAT scores were released.

The Professor’s driver dropped me off at the hotel where my family was holding the "Celebration Banquet."

I walked into the ballroom. My parents and Caleb, tan from their trip, were surrounded by socialites and business partners.

"Mr. Xu, you are so blessed. Two bright sons."

"It's an honor to be associated with the Xu family."

The crowd wasn't just here for test scores. Grandma, the iron-fisted matriarch of the Xu Corporation, had declared that whoever got into the better university would inherit her controlling shares.

Today wasn't a party. It was a coronation.

I took a deep breath and walked straight to Grandma.

She smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Confident, Nathan?"

I nodded. "I won't let you down, Grandma."

In my past life, Grandma was the only one who loved me. But after Caleb framed me and my score tanked, she died of a heart attack three days later, heartbroken by my 'failure.'

I wouldn't let that happen again.

"Nathan, why lie to Grandma?" Caleb’s voice cut through the air. He marched over, phone in hand. "You spent a month getting drunk in a lounge. How could you possibly do well?"

He flashed photos of me in the club, surrounded by bottles, to the guests.

Dad looked at me with pure disgust. "If I were you, I wouldn't have shown my face today."

"Caleb is estimating a 1580. You probably didn't even break 800. After today, the company belongs to your brother. You'll be begging him for scraps."

"A loser preparing to leach off his brother... pathetic."

The guests whispered and laughed.

"I saw him downtown. He had a bottle in one hand and a girl in the other. Living the life."

"A 1580? That's Ivy League material. Probably Harvard or MIT."

"Caleb has always been the smart, handsome one. The company is safe in his hands."

I scanned the room of sycophants. "The scores aren't even out yet. You're all licking his boots a little early, aren't you?"

"Watch your mouth!" Dad snapped. "Bad grades and bad manners."

"Someone's delusional," a guest laughed. "If partying got you into Yale, the clubs would be libraries."

My dad slammed his car keys on the table—keys to a McLaren. "If you beat Caleb, this car is yours."

I laughed. "Just a car? I thought you were a big shot, Dad."

"If you trust Caleb so much, why not bet all your properties?"

Mom hesitated, but the crowd egged them on. "A 1580 is a lock! Nathan has no chance."

"Exactly. Even if you bet the whole estate, Nathan isn't taking a dime."

I raised an eyebrow. "So, Dad? All your assets. Let's see your confidence."

Dad wavered, but Mom whispered, "What are you afraid of? He's trash."

Caleb nodded. "Trust me, Dad."

Dad puffed out his chest. "Fine! Whichever son gets into the better school gets all my personal assets. Grandma is the witness!"

Just then, the online portal for scores opened.

Caleb stepped up. "I'll go first. Let's verify my estimate."

He typed in his info with a flourish.

The screen refreshed.